Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott, Campell, Giroud
Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Gabriel, Chambers, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi
Arsenal came from behind twice against Liverpool but still couldn’t secure three points as Arsene Wenger’s men drew 3-3 in a frantic game at Anfield.
Aaron Ramsey cancelled Roberto Firmino’s early opener before the Brazilian grabbed a fine second with a curled finish from 20-yards.
In a frantic first half Olivier Giroud levelled again from a corner on 28 minutes and then struck ten minutes after the break to put the Gunners ahead. The Frenchman’s strike looked like it might be enough to win the game before Joe Allen came off the bench to equalise in the final minute.
Pre-game
Arsene Wenger made several changes to the team that beat Sunderland in the FA Cup. As expected Mesut Ozil and Mathieu Flamini, who were rested, returned to the starting XI along with Aaron Ramsey, who came off the bench to score on Saturday. In defence Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal replaced Gabriel and Kieran Gibbs. Alex Iwobi also dropped to the bench, while young keeper Matt Macey retained his place amongst the subs with David Ospina yet to overcome his groin problem.
First half
Arsenal started the game tentatively, happy to allow Liverpool to dominate possession. There were a couple of deft passes by Mesut Ozil, but you couldn’t say for sure if every player in gold had touched the ball before the home side took the lead.
It was a goal that stemmed from sloppiness. Walcott tried to dribble the ball clear from a cleared Liverpool corner only to be dispossessed on the edge of his own box. The ball fell to Emre Can who produced a decent stop from Petr Cech only for the rebound to finish to Roberto Firmino who finished low through Koscielny’s net after taking one touch to control. (1-0)
Liverpool’s lead last only four minutes as we scored with our first attack. Giroud, under pressure from Mamadou Sakho, won a great header in the Liverpool final third, Ramsey picked up the loose ball, exchanged passes with Joel Campbell and finished first time at Simon Mignolet’s near post. (1-1)
The Welshman deserves praise for his controlled finish, but the goal was all about the Costa Rican’s beautifully weighted reverse pass. As his teammates celebrated their quick-fire equaliser, Giroud had his head stapled to stem the flow of blood from a head wound.
Liverpool, unperturbed at being pegged back, charged around the field in the hope of regaining the initiative. They didn’t have to wait long. Within six minutes, and with a healthy dose of luck after the ball twice rebounded off Campbell, Firmino had curled in a fantastic second from 20-yards. (2-1)
Amazingly, within five minutes the Gunners were level again. Ozil, Walcott and Giroud set up Ramsey whose lob forced Sakho to head an effort off the line for a corner. From the corner, taken by Ramsey, Giroud managed to flick in an effort at close quarters with his left foot for his 17th goal of the season. (2-2)
The action kept on flowing and Giroud really should have had his second on 28 minutes. From a yard out the Frenchman on the stretch overcooked a finish (it actually went backwards!) from a Walcott cross after the winger was beautifully played behind the Liverpool defence by Campbell.
The lively Costa Rican continued to be at the heart of much of the end-to-end action. He went down claiming a penalty after a stray Moreno arm tugged him down, ignored by the referee, and then had an effort deflected over. Ozil’s resulting corner then caused all manner of problems for Mignolet before squirming out for a goal kick.
Liverpool continued to look dangerous; Firmino nearly finding Lallana with a low cross that Cech parried clear and Can bending an effort straight into Cech’s hands. Deep into stoppage time Firmino, on a hat-trick, swivelled in the box and swung a left foot effort that clipped the bar. It was breathless stuff.
Second half
Campbell and Alberto Moreno had opportunities early in the second half as the game picked up where it left off. Both were half chances.
Liverpool, so energetic in the first half, looked to be tiring as Walcott went solo from the halfway line and screwed wide. Giroud then fired another warning shot over the bar with his head.
On 55 minutes our impressive Frenchman did grab his second. Again Campbell was vital to the move, as his deft pass was deflected into Giroud’s path allowing the striker space to spin on a sixpence and arrow a left foot strike past Mignolet. It was a fine finish, but credit has to go to Hector Bellerin who latched on to an errant Flamini pass to force the Liverpool defence onto the back foot in the build up. (3-2)
Behind for the first time, Jurgen Klopp threw on Christian Benteke and then watched like a madman on the touchline as Moreno, Firmino and Lallana came close. In response, Arsene Wenger replaced Campbell and Walcott with Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal looked nervous at the back entering the last 15 minutes as the Kop roared on the home side. Eager to see out the game, the boss replaced the tiring Ozil with Mikel Arteta while Steven Caulker, a defender signed on loan yesterday from QPR, was chucked on as an unorthodox striking option in place of Lallana.
As the game ticked into the final minute, Joe Allen, on for Emre Can, connected with a Benteke header ahead of Bellerin to force home a frustratingly late equaliser.
It was the eighth goal conceded in the final 5 minutes by an Arsene Wenger side at Anfield in 19 Premier League games (Cheers @Orbinho). We really should have put a bet on it happening.
Disappointing… but the positives – Is there a better defensive left back in the world than Monreal? And Joel Campbell, what a player. So much ability in every department. I think we really missed Sanchez’s presence and goal threat. Hopefully back against stoke. Still top of the league.
Campbell was amazing tonight. Significant drop in quality down the right hand side after he was taken off. Ox did nothing of note, and the 3rd goal came from his side – betcha Campbell would have done better if he was still on.
If one moment perfectly summed up the Ox’s form at the moment, it was when the team broke on a fast counter, and Ox ran right into traffic and lost the ball with a free Özil left fuming. Lacking composure on the final ball. Maybe a run in midfield would be helpful as he wouldn’t be under so much pressure to deliver final balls.
Yeah, agree 100%, was not looking forward to Ox coming on, the game passed him by. I though Giroud was immense, beside the two goals, should have have a third, but his hold up play was incredible. Özil was sublime, some of his pull downs were exquisite.
I couldn’t quite believe some of the football Ozil was playing – pure magic. He looks confident and stronger on the ball these days as well, not letting the opposition barge him out the way.
Giroud loves the Arsenal. I love Giroud.
I would really like to see statistics on how often Ox runs straight a defender and loses the ball. That seems to happen week after week.
He is just such an incredibly dumb player. Always chooses the wrong option. I’m also quite tired of him having a terrible first touch when starting to dribble. He’s had years of training at Arsenal, under Wenger, and playing in the PL and he’s still making the same errors he did when he first arrived.
What a frenetic game! I’m still trying to wind down from all this action.
I agree that the team suffered with the subs, but we couldn’t ask more of Campbell – he must have run 11K+ today!
MOTM either Giroud or Campbell
Also: we were ahead, and bringing on Gibbs and Ox is the kind of substitution that usually helps us see the game out. We’ll need Campbell again on Sunday, so he could use the 15 minute break.
To be honest a draw away at Liverpool, especially with how they were playing today, is certainly not the worst result.
Absolutely. And, fundamentally, we all watch football for entertainment. And that was bloody entertaining.
The subs lost us two points. Why artita? Why not Gab or chamber for high balls as Liverpool where going direct.
Chambers should have been brought on, our legs were gone after 75 minutes….don’t bring on a player with no legs.
I like Mikel (not Jon obi), but i fear Arsene’s loyalty to him may cost.
See West Brom away
Agree that Joel was brilliant today, great on the ball and chased everything down – so unlucky for firminho’s 2nd – but what a finish!!
A word for the Gallic stallion – not even a stapled head can stop him – even my girlfriend now refers to him as my man crush!!
We miss Sanchez but I would have traded him for Cazorla tonight. I love Ramsey’s energy but we really miss Santi’s ability to control the ball in tight spaces.
could’ve, would’ve, should’ve…
Fair result really. We should do better in the coming weeks.
Thats it, beat stoke and its been a good week with city drawing.
Just disappointed we shit ourselves over their pressing. Given our experience with the big German clubs we should have dealt with it better.
If I was a pool fan, eugh, id be disgusted, they turn it on against us and then sleep against the small teams. Why no accusations of complacency against them?
Anyway, could be a lot worse, credit the boys for dealing with that intense start. COYG
Campbell simply HAS to keep his place now. He’s currently way better than Walcott, and the Ox is really struggling for form at the moment. He was our best player alongside Mertesacker and Monreal.
Campbell has definitely earned his place in the team as of now. And Ox seems to be putting too much pressure on himself to get out of his slump. Think he just needs to get back to basics and find his form and confidence again.
I feel the Ox would come good eventually but he’s not likely to get the chance right now. Feel a bit sorry for him, given his injuries and obvious promise, but on the other hand he hasn’t shown enough work rate for us to take the risk on starting him regularly.
Seems like the best he can hope for is that he comes on as a sub and nets one or two goals to get his confidence up and start persuading le prof that he deserves more game time.
And Giroud, glaring miss aside.
Giroud wasn’t too bad either.
Fuck.
Bloody mugsmashers. They play better against us than west ham. Still good result though. One point on the road
I am worried, Giroud’s haircut no longer is considered as invincible.
Disappointing to drop points tonight. Results were going our way. We sat very deep after 60 mins.
Very worried about theos for he is just not impacting the game.
He is mostly wasted on the left. When we get Sanchez back Theo should be up front or on the bench.
just when you think all the three points are in the bag..oh well forward we match
cant believe we lost that..
Really? From the beginning I was thinking that Arshavin was going to appear.
Really? Arshavin says hello.
Ghost comment. Spooky. Arshavin from beyond the grave.
Merde… That was there for the taking.
Although it’s gutting, can’t help but think it was fair. And the other results have gone for us too. Could’ve been worse, some great performances, Campbell, Monreal and Giroud were fantastic. Still got Alexis, Santi, Coq, Jack, Welbeck and Rosicky to come back as well. COYG
We gave up so much space at the early minutes, and that’s cost us two goals.
Really missed Coquelin, there.
Level points with Leicester, two aheads of City. But still on top. Keep going, lads!
And Cazorla
3 ahead of City, no?
You’re correct Santi.
There was some good some bad, overall we played Liverpool away, man city played Everton at home, and we kept pace. It could have been much better, but it could have been worse. In the end I’ll take it.
2 points dropped when they were there for the taking. Just kept inviting them on and got what we deserved. Still top but that’s down to the poor quality of the the premier league, let’s hope we take advantage of it
Is it down to the poor quality of the league, or down to the great quality of the league. Every team has payers that can change games. Now more than ever, you don’t know who will win before the match
Poor quality of the league? As opposed to France where 1 oil sponsored side could field a third team and still win the league, or Spain or Germany where there are only 3/4 sides who can win or historically have pretty much ever won, providing each side with only 6 competitive games a season.
Let’s see how well Klopp does with the pressing game towards the end of the season once he realises no games in our league are walk overs.
I have to say, that was poor. Conditions and the opposition had something to do with it, perhaps, but it was poor quality most all day. Two of the goals conceded were very poor indeed. We had a few good moments and a brilliant second goal by Giroud. But we were never in control of the match and the second half saw us weaken continually until it felt like a simple matter of time until they equalised. Ugly match. And points dropped that we may well need by the end. Disappointed. Ramsey/Flam is certainly no Coq/Cazorla.
Fuckin’ ell are you Alan Hansen in disguise? That was a great game against a dangerous if flawed liverpool at their ground. It was disappointing that we couldn’t cling on but the murdering thieves did deserve a point.
What with the other results tonight it was not a bad result.
Couldn’t see the game out but great effort by the lads. Maybe Coquelin’s bite in midfield would’ve helped us reduce the early pressure. Flashes of the 5-1 defeat when our central defenders are allow to short pass, and our fullbacks and deep midfielders were being pressured by liverpool to try and catch us unawares. Hard for ozil to stamp his authority in a game like this but he still showed flashes. I don’t think 3 points against Liverpool is too bad considering city lost to them once already. We did well, and adding Alexis and coquelin is only going to… Read more »
I’m with Le Jim
With the other results around us, keeping that lead would have given a huge belief to the team and sent a serious message to the rest.
Now must take max points from next 3 games.
Stoke away will he tough, must not lose.
After that we host a relegation-threatened side in disarrays at the a Emirates.
Last season, a last gasp equalizer. This time around, same story. Feels like a point gained though all things considered.
Ohhh Santi ..I miss you….
Great game for neutrals. Campbell was brilliant and MOTM for me.
Team worked hard and tried hard!
Sad to say but 4 minutes before Arteta came in i told my mate if Arsene let him on the pitch it will be a draw. With Benteke on and the crosses coming in Chambers would be better and he is quicker on the ground. Sad oh sad.
That is very true. Arsene plumped for experience in the pressure situation. Should’ve trusted chambers.
I think the mistake arsene made was putting arteta on, don’t get me wrong arteta didn’t do anything wrong but of my point of views arsene should have put gabriel as 3rd center back as every know that the will put many crosses at the last minutes of the match if we had 3rd center back there I think the goal will not happen.
We needed Gabriel, Chambers and Gibbs to hold out for the three points, Arteta too anodyne and Ox adds no value in a situation like that
As much as the result, wasn’t bad given how Liverpool started I can’t help think that bringing Arteta on was a stupid decision. He offers no defensive contribution whatsoever. Experience doesn’t count for nothing against a bombardment so bringing on someone around 5ft8 and slow as fuck was just wrong. Chambers or Gabriel would have been preferable in my opinion.
Sadly yes. A few years ago, Arteta offered real defensive value and experience and the ability to keep the ball in these situations but after all his injuries and with Liverpool going aerial to Benteke and Caulker (!) it was too much of an automatic move and not enough thought about the specifics. If he was going to make a defensive sub it should have been Gabriel.
The big mistake was putting Ox on. Should have been Chambers at the point.
* at THAT point.
Giroud, Campbell, Bellerin, brilliant! A bit of a downer at the final result though.
Spuds….haha
Man City drawing at home makes that a bit easier to take
The worst part about this is, that last goal that led to the dropped points is EXACTLY the type of goal that you always feel Arsenal will concede at any minute: some ‘scrappy’ (read: rubbish) ball that somehow gets pinballed around and leads to an opponent getting a cross into the box that gets headed in, or gets headed into the path of some midfield runner that didn’t get picked up. All that good work to level it twice, take the lead, and keep the lead for half an hour, ruined by some stupid conceded goal that didn’t need to… Read more »
I believe in ox but he is giving us nothing at the moment. He lacks maturity in pressure situations and shows no desire to defend. Notheless I would take a point.
Sat waaaay too deep towards the end just inviting them to punt it up to Benteke who is always so good in the air… Gutted
That was some game.
Bad, we couldn’t be victorious, but this team surely shows the character. Went down twice and still calmness and that arsenal class.
Never looked like we could hang on with a one goal lead. I think we missed chances to kill the game. Still win man city drawing, it’s not the end of the world.
If you think about it we got two very very very gratuitous goals in the first. By any account Liverpool should have been away and out of sight by half time. Yes it feels like two points dropped, but if you’d given us a draw 15 minutes in, most gooners would have taken it. Crazy game.
Nobody wants to pull away and establish a commanding lead like Chelsea did last season. l can’t wait for our LANS.
I’m celebrating the point (and city’s draw). Great game! Go Joel! And Olivier! Among others…
Never good to lose a goal late on in a game but if you had been offered a draw before the game would you have taken it?
After the first few minutes I would have taken a draw and felt like we’d robbed them.
Hugely disappointing all things considered especially given results elsewhere.
Still top though and one game closer to the 38th.
Personally I think we need (and really should have) an 8-10 point lead coming into the last five games.
I don’t want to experience anything like that ever again. I won’t be able to sleep tonight and I’ve tun out of cigarettes
I think Joel Campbell should have been Man of the Match, he was all over the pitch, assists shots on goal and some superb defensive work, he could hardly walk off the pitch when he was subbed (pity about the two rebounds that gave them a goal)
I think Campbell was hobbling from that shin kick from Clyne.
FFS, bottled it again.
I’m just worried about how easily they cut through our midfield. Arsenal should have been more clever by trying to kill the game off, instead there was some charging down blind alleys and hoofing the ball to nobody.
I guess the conditions had a huge part to play. Every player was struggling with their passes
Giroud’s second really was a superb finish… Onwards and upwards… GOYG !!
Klopp is irritating
Who in the fuck saw that cross coming…or the fuckload of crosses before that…
2 points dropped…very very disappointed. On the other hand: – Best performance by Giroud since he arrived in this club. Much better than the olympiakos one. He held up play well, dribbled players, pass well. Those 2 goals make up for the miss of the season. – Nacho Monreal is the best left back in the league. End of story. – Campbell was superb today. Ox has officially fallen behind in the pecking order. Wenger should’ve left himin – Flamini was extremely poor today. I said it that we’d struggle against high pressing teams with the Ramsey-Flamini axis and i… Read more »
You were proven right!! Well done, you must feel proud.
Maybe I’m being selfish but I can’t help but be disappointed with the draw. Though in the end, it was probably a fair result, after we took that lead, it just feels like we should’ve held on. Giroud (minus that one chance) was great, Campbell and Monreal were immense. Some of the others seemed to have a mixed bag. It just seemed like we never fully got into the game. A couple of the goals showed pure class but then some of the touches and passes were very average. I guess we’ll just have to look back on this game… Read more »
Arteta should not be getting on the pitch anymore. Sign the egyptian dude already please, at least he looks to have some mobility.
For fuck’s sake I hate it when the liverpool pundit team are happy
Fucking Arsenal not having the fucking balls to push forward in this fucking title race whenever they’re given the fucking chance and fucking Spunts fucking losing to Leicester City just to fucking spite us and make it easier for them to fucking catch us because they can’t do it their damn selves the fucking potatoes! Good game though…
Was the Giroud goal from the corner an Ozil assist?
Nope. Ramsey.
Ramsey was corner taker
I just fail to understand the sheer stupidity of both Theo and Chambo,at times. They do all the hard work, carry the ball forward dribbling past a few players in the middle, but as soon as they reach the final third, they insist on dribbling through a swarm of defenders and end up losing the ball. It’s fucking annoying to see them do the same thing over and over and over again, with exactly the same results. They need to have a look at Campbell and learn a thing or two as to when to hold up and when to… Read more »
Agreed.You would think they would learn from ozil about getting your head up instead of running down blind alleys
Well said! I think the other key problem today was Ramsey… He enjoys playing in midfield so much, but continously fails to find the balace between defending and going forward. Not to mention that we really lacks the miniature dribbles that with Santi used to keep the ball and distribute it after…
I really like Ramsey, but if he plays next to our DM he must accept that defending is at least as important than going forward.
And both of them have problems while defending as well. They do track back, but just as the pass is about to be played on, they go to sleep. That is something Sanchez and Joel never do and they should definitely be our first choice left and right wingers.
When is the Coq coming back?
Disappointing end but we invited them on in last 20 mins and paid for it. Suppose the only thing niggling me is that when they put Benteke on and kept lobbing it up to him I was surprised he didn’t opt for Gabriel to come on to help counter it. Oh well still top bonus city only drawing and at home too.
A fair result over the 90 minutes, but we should have won it. We were excellent in the first half, coming back twice and really threatening them. But after we got that third goal we got our tactics all wrong. We should have pushed on and tried to get the fourth: instead we tried to hold on to a single-goal lead and got what we deserved. A blind man in a cave could have seen that equaliser coming. Wenger proved yet again that his game management leaves something to be desired: those two defensive substitutions were the wrong move. The… Read more »
Ignore this post. I’m pissed. And pissed off.
Who the fucking hell are you ?
that’s more like it
Not the worst result, although we should’ve kept the ball better after we are up in the 2nd half. Instead they just kept peppering at our goal and I feel that eventually something will go in, and it did.